Wind-wheel.



D. KEMBLE.

WIND WHEEL.

APPucATIoN FILED Nov.2. 1914.

Patented May 2, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A TTORNEY TME COLUMNA PLANUGRAPH cu., wAsmNmoN, u. c.

D. KEMBLE.

WIND WHEEL.

APPLlcAnoN men Nov. 2. 1914.

Patented May 2, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 4M; t( www ATTORNEY DUSTON KEMIBL-E, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

WIND-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application led November 2, 1914. Serial No. 869,797.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, DUs'roN KEMBLE, a citizenof the United States, residing at Lakewood, in the county of Cuyahogaand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in"Wind-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in wind wheels, and theimprovement comprises power transmitting mechanism which willautomatically increase the length of the power stroke with increasedspeed of the wind wheel under high wind velocities and proportionallydecrease the length of stroke with a decrease of wind velocity ofpressure, thereby securing the maximum of power of the wheel at thedifferent or variable wind forces, all substantially as shown anddescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of thewind wheel, mechanism in which the invention is embodied, the said viewbeing takensubstantially on line a m, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 1s a plan view ofthe said mechanism partially sec tioned. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectionalele vation of the lifting and shifting parts as hereinafter fullydescribed. Eig. 4 isa sec` tional view, enlarged, of the regulating fan.shaft journals. Figs. 5 to'9 inclusive are diagrams of modified forms ofthe invention, each hereinafter more specifically described.

Now, having in mind the object set forth in the foregoing preamble, Iemploy the usual connecting rods 2 which, presumably, connect with apump and in respect to which the term stroke applies in its ultimateef-l fect. However, the stroke so called, is dependent, and relative.Thus, the said rod is reciprocated through an oscillatory member 3having a downwardly-extending eX- tremity 4 connected with said rod by apivot bolt 5. Member 3 comprises two levers or bars which are bowed orcurved in their main portion to substantially the segment of an arc andspaced apart, relatively as seen in plan Fig. 2, but rigidly connectedwith each other at their respective ends so as to produce a unitarystructure and operation. The primary pivot for oscillatory member 3 islocated at the outer end thereof directly opposite the end 4 orconnecting rod pivot 5 and comprises two hubs orV trunnions 6 on theinner sides of the arm 7 of the swivel post 8 which is rotatablysupported upon roller bearings 9 at the top of the tubular mounting 10on the tower structure 11. The levers or bars of member 3 have straightextensions 12, and a counterweight 13 is adjustably mounted thereon toequalize or balance the weight of the parts on the connecting rod sideof the member.

The swivel post 8 embodies bearings for a transverse shaft 14 to carrythe wind wheel, not shown, and a pinion 15 on this shaft meshes with agear wheel 16 fixed on a crank shaft 17 also mounted in bearings at thetop of post 8. The crank at the middle of the crank shaft 17 is engagedby a connecting bar 18, which is preferably provided with a divided endadapted to pivotally engage a short transverse fulcrum shaft 19 havingits ends rotatably supported in channel-iron bearings 2O slidablymounted on the curved edges of the side bars of member 3. The shaft 19and the slidable bearings 2O provide a shifting operating fulcrum foroscillatory member 3, and obviously when this fulcrum is carried towardthe primary pivot for said member the oscillatory movement thereof willbe correspondingly increased. A reverse movement of the fulcrum outwardtoward the extremity 4 will shorten the oscillatory stroke of member 3,the object being to lessen this stroke when the velocity of the windsubsides and to lengthen the same when the velocity increases. 1n eitheror both cases, the operating position of the fulcrum slides 2O isdetermined by the speed of the wind primarily, a result obtained bymeans of a wind-actuated fan 21 of any desired size and power, mountedon one end of a transverse shaft 22 extending through and havingbearings in the hubs 6 at the bifurcated outer end of arm 7. A bevelgear 23 is fixed to the fan shaft 22 within the space between the twohubs 6, and a second bevel gear 24 is supported in mesh with gear 22 bya yoke member 24 sleeved to turn on one of the hubs 6 and having alateral hub 25 to support a screw rod 26 centrally between the side barsof member 3. Rod 26 extends toward the crank end of member 3 and is inscrew engagement with the enlarged nut portion 27 centrally of thefulcrum shaft 19, whereby rotation of the fan shaft 22 in eitherdirection will cause a shift in position of the slides 20 and thefulcrum 19 for connecting bar 18. Fan 21 will rotate its shaft 22 in onedirection, and a coiled spring 27 on the projecting portion of the shaftwill be placed under tension during such rotation and effect a return orreverse rotation when the wind pressure on the fan decreases below thetension of the spring. Une end of the spring is secured to the outer endof the long hub 6 of arm 7, and the other end of the spring is fastenedto a tension adjusting device comprising a notched sleeve 28 rotatablymounted at the end of the shaft and adapted to have separable lockingengagement with a pin 29 on the shaft, see Fig. 2. A tube 30 inclosesand protects the spring 27.

Now, as to this particular group of parts, it will be observed that thewind controlled fan 21 is the initial member in the group relied upon tochange the position of the fulcrum 19 of the connecting bar 18 byrotating the screw rod 26 and carrying said fulcrum away from theworking end toward the primary pivot of oscillatory member 3, thusincreasing the oscillatory movement of said member and likewise thelength of stroke of the pump rod 2. However, there is also a limitprovided for this movement, otherwise the nut and screw rod would becomelocked or be injured, and this limit is fixed by a stop 3 on bars 3. Thespring 27 is so connected with the fan shaft 22 that it will begradually wound or tightened by the rotation of the fan 21 until itreaches a certain tension. When the fan 21 is restrained from furtherrotation by the spring 27 or stop 3, the other parts in gear therewithremain stationary until the wind pressure diminishes suiciently to allowthe stored up power in the spring to dominate the fan and cause anopposite rotation of the fan and its connected screw rod and at lastrestore the fulcrum shaft 19 to a normal position approximately as shownin Fig. 1.

The mechanism as thus shown and described has the fulcrum-shifting fan21 and the parts operated thereby as auxiliary elements to the usualwind wheel parts and supplements said parts as described and for thepurpose set forth. Obviously, if the wind be low, the length of the pumprod stroke is nearly at its minimum, as in Fig. 1; but if the wind behigh the length of the stroke may be carried to the maximum, which is asfar inward on the lever 3 as the stop 3 thereon will permit the fulcrumslide to go. Thus, the fan 21 and spring 27 control the fulcrum-shiftingmechanism, while the main wind wheel operates the pump or other loadconnected with the rods 2 through the gears 15 and 16, the connectingbar 18, and the oscillatory member 3.

It will, of course, be understood that the minimum and the maximumshifts of the fulcrum on the operating lever represent the extremes ofmovement of the said fulcrum, and the shifting will pause at anyintermediate point according to the degrees of wind pressure upon thefan 21. That is, the fan may be checked at any intermediate pointaccording to the pressure thereon at the time,

and it will play the fulcrum back and forth on said lever subject tovarying wind pressure. Of course, both said fan and the wind wheel aresubject to the same wind at the same time, and hence the fulcrumcontrolling mechanism responds to the breeze or wind, whatever velocityit may have, and adjusts itself accordingly. It is evident, also thatthe regulating fan 21, with its shaft, spring and other connectingparts, might be set out upon the extensions 12 of the oscillatory member3, which is herein shown as carrying the counterweight and this wouldnot interfere with the successful working of my general plan, since allparts of the mechanism would move together substantially as in Fig. 8.Moreover, it is not necessary that the regulating fan 21 be placed infront, z'. c. on the Windward side of the main wind wheel, since it willoperate on either side of the main wheel if its spring be properlyadjusted to meet the requirements in either case.

The object in using an oscillatory member or rocker arm between thecrank bar 18 and the pump rod 2 is to secure a nearly vertical arc ofmotion for the head of the pump rod, thus enabling it to operate in thespace between the main shaft 14 and the crank shaft 17 and thusmaintaining a central balance of gravity for the whole structure overthe swivel post 8. Moreover, the peculiar shape of my curved oscillatorymember or rocker arm, including the depending extremity to which thepump rod 2 is attached, enables a shifting fulcrum 19 to be employedwithout seriously disturbing the general position of the arc throughwhich the head of the pump rod is moved except to lengthen said arc atboth its extremities, and the use of a screw rod to shift the operatingfulcrum or crank rod joint on the curved oscillatory member is ofadvantage as it accomplishes the desired result with comparative easewhile capable of holding the fulcrum firmlv in position against anatural tendency of the same to shuiiie back and forth according to thedifferent angles assumed by the oscillatory member during each cycle ofthe crank stroke. In fact, the operation of the fulcrum shifting screwis almost limited to the alternate quadrants of each crank stroke whenthe regulating fan is drawing the fulcrum shaft or joint toward theprimary pivot of member 3, and to the other alternate quadrants of eachcrank stroke when the fan is relaxed in tension to permit the spiralspring on the fan shaft to reverse the motion and push the fulcrum shafttoward the outer end of the arm. Moreover, the action of this spring ismuch more powerful when most needed, namely, when the fulcrum 19 isnearest the primary pivot of the oscillatory member 3.

On account of the short length of the curved portion of the oscillatorymember or rocker arm on which the fulcrum shaft 19 is adapted to slide,this type of regulator can only increase the stroke to 2 or 2 times itsinitial length when starting under the lowest Wind velocity at which thewheel can operate the given pump. Nevertheless, it may yield otherincidental advantages. For instance, if it be desired to have the pumpstart in operation with summer winds of very moderate velocity, say, ofonly 6 to 8 miles per hour, this can be effected by using a suitableratio in the gears of the main and counter shafts and making the pump ofa proper size. Then, whenever the wind rises to twice the initialvelocity, that is, to 12 or 16 miles per hour, not only will the pump beoperating twice as fast as at the start, but it will have twice as longa stroke; and will also continue lto have this maximum long stroke forall higher velocities. Moreover, since the reversing spring on the shaftof the auxiliary fan can be changed in tension at will by use of the'adjusting device 28, it is entirely feasible to have the wind wheelarranged to start the pump with a wind of only 6 to 8 miles per hour inthe season of summer breezes. Then by tightening the spring so as tomake the wheel operate the pump with aminimum wind of 12 to 14 miles perhour in the season of heavy winter gales, we can connect a secondsimilar pump to the first one and operate them both in parallel, thusdoubling the output, and altogether operating in a higher range of windvelocities than is usual.

The fan and screw mechanism for shifting the operating fulcrum for theoscillatory member 3 is the preferred form of operating structure, but Imay use a belt or chain operating with pulleys or sprockets to transmitthe power from the fan to the fulcrum slides. and the fan may be locatedat any desired distance from the swivel post and the wind wheel. Suchmodifications are illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9.

In Fig. 5, the fan 21 is mounted on a short shaft 31 journaled at thetop of a box or slide 32 adapted to travel on the curved oscillatory arm33, and a pinion 34 on the fan shaft 31 meshes with a large gear on ashaft 36 also journaled in the box or slide A pinion 37 on shaft 36meshes with the teeth of the rack 28 on the bottom edge of the arm 33and rotation of the fan in one direction causes the slide 32 and thecrank connection 39 to shift their position relatively to the primarypivot 40 of arm 33.

A spring 41 attached to the slide 32 and to a projection 42 on armcauses a return travel of the slide.

In Fig. 6, an oscillatory member 43 is provided with a gear rack 44which is engaged by a pinion 45 operated by a band wheel 46 and a belt-17 extending therefrom to a small pulley 43 on the shaft 49 carryingthe fan 50. The fan shaft is mounted on the straight arm 51 of theoscillatory member i 3 and oscillates therewith. Rotation of the fancauses the slide 52 engaged with the crank rod 18 to travel in onedirection on member 43, and a convolute spring 54 causes a reversemovement.

Fig. 7 shows a crank rod fulcrum or connection having rollers 56 adaptedto travel in a channeled oscillatory member 57, such as furtherillustrated in Fig. 8. The fan 5S in this form of the device is mountedon a shaft 59 having a spiral pulley 60 upon which a flexible cord orconnection 61 is adapted to wind and unwind under the action of the fanand a weight 62.

Fig. 9 is a reduced view of a wind wheel 63 of conical shape which iscarried by a main shaft 64 at one side of the swivel post 65. Theregulating fan wheel 66 is supported at the outer end of a separateshaft 67 on the opposite side of the post, and a sprocket and chainconnection 68 transmits the power from the fan shaft 67 to the bevelgear shaft 69 at the top of the post. which shaft corresponds to theshaft 22 in Figs. 1 and 2. The oscillatory arm and screw rod are omittedfrom Fig. 9. but it will be understood that these parts are used andconnected in the same manner as shown in said Figs. 1 and 2.

What l claim is:

1. In a wind wheel, crank mechanism comprising a. curved oscillatoryoperating member having a rigid depending extremity for a pump rodattachment and a crank connection in shifting relation therewith, andauxiliary wind andy spring operated means to shift said crank connectionto vary the stroke of said member proportionately to the velocity of thewind.

2. A wind wheel operating mechanism. a curved rock arm having a pendantextremity, a pump rod connection engaged with the said extremity, amovable fulcrum and means to transmit power thereto and to said arm, anauxiliary wind wheel and means supplemental to said wheel adapted toshift the said fulcrum more or less, dependent upon the varying windpressure.

3. In a wind wheel, a curved power transmitting member adapted tooscillate, a crank and connection therefor and a shifting member forsaid crank connection mounted on said member, a wind controlledmechanism to shift said connection in one direction having a shaft and aspring sleeved on the said shaft to counteract said movement and restorethe same to normal when the wind subsides.

4. A power transmitting device, comprising an oscillatory member, and acrank connection slidably engaged with said member, in combination withan auxiliary wind wheel and its shaft and power transmitting melnbersand a` torsional spring to operate said crank connections, and a tensinadjusting device to twist said spring.

5. In a wind wheel, a main shaft and a crank shaft and gears therefor,in combination with a curved oscillatory lever having a rigid pendantextremity, a connecting rod engaged with said extremity and disposed toreciprocate in the space between the main shaft and the crank shaft, anda crank connection for said lever.

G. In a wind wheel, a swivel post, a curved member mounted to oscillateupon said post, a crank and connecting rod to operate said member, saidmember having a counterweight extension at one end and a rigiddownwardly-extending arm at its other end, and a power transmitting rodconnected with the extremity of said arm.

7. In a Wind wheel, a crank shaft, a reciprocable pump rod, a curvedoscillatory member and a. pump rod connection therefor, a crankconnection slidably engaged with said oscillatory member, and auxiliarymeans to slide said crank connection, the said parts being arranged sothat the center of curvature of said oscillatory member is substantiallyco-incident with the crank shaft axis at the mid-stroke of the pump rodin all the variable positions of the sliding member.

In testimony whereof I aliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

F. J. GREEK, R. B. MOSER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for vc cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

